The Labor enquirer., 1887-11-19

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= uwQEoUo ~ o1n1m I'd prices O
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eReels AsoQg1 bonnruD1ey. LaborerI
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pmdeoeA o(kiED - loooetsd 10 With
81 roaie1, hoenuno q ~ liability Of en-
p!eyes + nany enos - ~ living wages
VAils noes "a noes ~ driven INTO The
stses1s. DninoD - IA collections al
most inpossihle monnttns hundreds OF
h&lioas & ~ pohlle nonsy which il
neeesd foE roliof = Iooksd up in the
United etatas tssainy in grim mockery
q ~ distsess; la11 monopoly hourishes
- never noWn boDoeo, md more and
more oWnsrs of ~ oou aro daily becom-
ihg tenants. Great tzansportation corpo-
rattous stin sueooea Il sxtorting their
pro1ts upon vatsFed stoek through unjust
charges. Ths 'Unit6d States senate has
become IN opsn scandal, IL seats being
purchased By The Rioh IN open defiance OF
the popular win. 4 tEiaing fisheries dis.
pute = ssised upoa . sn excuse for nec.
sssary military preparations which are
designed 70 breed spirit Of war, TO ape
European dsspotisn, and to empty the
treasury without paying the public debt
Under thess and olhsf alarming condi-
tions vs appeal 70 the people of the
whole country TO como out Of the old
party organization, where indifference
to the pubic welfare Il responsible for
this distress, and help NJ to organize a
new political party, not sectional but ma
tional, whose members shall be called
commoners, whose object shall be to re-
peal all class laws in favor Of the rich, and
to relieve the distress Of our industries
BY establishing the following principles:
l. Land-Every human being possesses
a natural, inaliensble right to sufficient
land for self support and we desire to Sc
cure TO ever industrious citizen home as
the highest result Of free institutions. To
this end We desire graduated land tax
on all land estates, especially those held
for speculative or tenant purpose; the re-
clsimation Of all lnearned land grants;
the immediate opening of Oklahoma to
homestead settlement; the purchase of
al unoccupied Indian lands, and the set
tlement Of the various tribes in severalty;
also laws preventing corporations from
real estate beyond the requir-
ments of their business, and alien owner
ship of land. The system of irrigation,
in states and territories where necessary,
shall be under such public control as shall
secure the free and equitable use of the
waters and franchises to the people.
2. Transportation-The means of cem-
or transportation should be
by the people, as is the United
States postal system, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
3. Money-The establishment of ma
tional monetary system in the interest of
the producer instead Of the speculator
and usurer by whicha circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full legal ten
der, shall be issued directly to the peo-
pie, without the Intervention of banks, or
loaned to citizens upon ample security at
q low rate of interest to relieve them from
the extortions of usury and enable them
10 control the money supply. Postal saw
ings banks should be established. While
we have free coinage of gold, we should
have free coinage of silver. We demand
the prompt payment of the national debt,
and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds, either by the national gov
or by states, territories, counties
Or municipalities.
4. Labor-Arbitration should take the
place of strikes and other injurious meth
DDS of settling labor disputes; the letting of
convict labor to contractors be prohibited;
he contract system be abolished in pub
ic wo, ts; the hours of labor in industrial
be reduced commensurate
With this increase of production in labor
saving machinery; employees to be pro-
ected from bodily injury; equal pay be-
- givef. 20, equal work for both sexes,
md labor, liicultural and cooperative
associations be favored and incorporated
,y law. The foundation of a republic is
he intelligence of its citizens, and chill
lren who are driven into worb shops.
mines and factories are deprived of edu-
,ation which should be secured by proper
egislation. We desire to see labor organ
cations extend throughout all civilized
countries, until it shall be impossible for
iespots to array the workingmen of one
country in war against their brothers of
mother country.
8. Soldiers and Sailors-In apprecia-
ion of the services of United States SOL
liers and sailors we demand for them JUS
ice before charity. The purposely dc.
preciatei monev Dsia then 31.:ng the
var should be made equal in value to the
yold paid the bondholder. The soldier
was promised gold or its equivalent and
vas paid in deprecated paper. The bond
holder loaned the government deprecated
paper and contracted to take it back, but
was paid in gold.
6. Income Taxa graduated income
Is the most equitable system of taxation,
placing tho burden Of government on
hose who can best afford to pay, instead
of laying it on the farmers and producers,
and exempting millionaire bondholders
md corporations.
z. United States Senate-Ths capture
Of the United States senate by million
aires and and tools Of corporations who
have no sympathy with free institutions,
shreatens the very existence of the repub-
lie. We demand constitutional amend
ment making United States senators elect
i've BY direct vote of the people.